Boat-detaching apparatus



(No Model.)

P. BLANDING. BOAT DETAGHING APPARATUS.

No. 526,989. Patented Oct. 2, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS BLANDING, 0F PUTNAM, ooNN cnoUr.

BOAT-DETACHING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 526,989, dated October2, 1894.

Application filed October 12, 1893.- Serial No. 437,918- (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS BLANDING, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Putnam, in the county of Windham and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in BoatsDetaching Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide means for releasing a boatautomatically from the lowering tackle when the weight of the boat isremoved therefrom by its buoyancy as will be hereinafter fully setforthand specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 is a plan view. Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly broken away, andFigs. 3 and 4 are detail views.

A designates a boat which is of the usual construction and is providedat the bow and stern with fixtures B, which are rigidly attachedthereto, said fixtures having upwardly projecting lugs 19 with aperturesI) through which the rods D D which engage with the eyes or loops 0pass. The ends of the rods D are provided with notches "cl (1 which areadapted to be engaged by the upper part of the lugs 12, so that when theeyes or loops 0 are placed between the lugs and the rods passed throughthe same the weight of the boat being suspended from said eyes or loopswill draw the ends of the rods against the lugs which will enter thenotches and form an efficient lock to prevent accidental disengagementof the parts. The rods D are bent so that the outer ends D will be on aline with the keelson while the remaining portion follows the line ofthe ,gunwale, the inner ends being connected to each other by alever Ewhich may be pivoted to the center of one of the seats. To the underside of the seat and to the lever E on each side of its pivot areattached springs F and means, as a bolt and nut, for adjusting thetension of the springs upon the lever.

In operation the lever E is normally held so that the ends D of the rodsD will be retracted, and when it is desired to connect the boat to thehoisting and lowering tackle the eyes or loops (J are placed between thelugs of the fixtures B and the rods D drawn upon to cause the ends Dthereof to pass through the lugs and loops, and when the tackle is drawnupon the notches in the rods will be engaged by the lugs and the-partswill. be locked in this position so long as there is a pull upon saidrods. When it is desired to launch the boat the same is lowered and assoon as it reaches the water the pull upon the ends of the rods will bereleased and the springs will then act to retract said rods and thusfree the boat from the lowering means. It will be noticed that the rodsDD act in unison so that both will be released simultaneously.

I am aware that prior to my invention it has been proposed to providelaunching devices with rods which are attached to theboat and extendfore and aft so that the ends thereof will engage with the hoisting and85 lower tackle, said rods being adapted to be operated manually toproject or retract the same to engage or disengage the hoisting andlowering tackle. My device is distinguished from such construction inthat it is automatic o in action, which is a very desirable feature asthe majority of accidents occur in lowering boats from the sides ofvessels by reason of theboats not being disconnected from the loweringtackle at the proper moment. 5

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire 'tosecure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In a releasing mechanism for launchingboats, the combination with the hoisting and too lowering tackle, offixturesB B having apertured lugs between which the eyes or loops of thehoisting and lowering tackle are adapted to be placed, rods D D havingend portions of smaller diameter than the apertures in the lugs andnotches or recesses (1 din the upper side of the end portions I) D ofthe rods which are adapted to be engaged by the lugs when the boat issuspended by the tackle, said rods D D extending from the fixtures alongthe under side of the gunwales of the boat to a central thwart, alever Epivoted to the under side of the thwart, and springs connected to saidlever and to the thwart, substantially as shown and for the purpose setforth.

2. In a device for launching boats, a boat having guides attached to theopposite sides and ends thereof adjacent to the gunwales, rods D Dcarried by said guides and bent to conform to the shape of the boat, theends adjacent to the bow and stern being bent to lie on a line with thekeel or longitudinal center of the boat and engage with fixturesB B,

having upwardly projecting portions 7) b with apertures b b; the endportions D D of the curved rods having notches d d in their uppersurfaces; a cross-bar E pivoted to .a central thwart or seat, andsprings F F which draw upon the cross-bar so as to hold the rods D Dnormally out of engagement with the fixtures B B, in combination, withthe hoisting and lowering tackle, substantially as shown, whereby theweight of the boat when supported by the hoisting and lowering'tacklewill hold the rods in locked engagement with the fixtures B B, for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANCIS BLANDING.

Witnesses:

A. O. BAKER, S. H. SEWARD.

